Lubricating journal bearing



H. F. SCHMIDT. LUBHICATING JOURNAL APPLICATION FILED FEB ING Pat ented May 23,

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HENRY SGEMEEDUE, OF SWARTHTVIORE, JPEHNSYLV E QUSE ELECTRIC AND MANUFACTURING CUMPAil'Y, A

srnvanra ADTIA,

LUBRIGATING J'GUIRNAL Application filed February 20, 1920.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, HENRY F. Sornnn'r, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Swarthinore, in the county of Delaware and Stateof Pennsylvania, have made a new and useful Invention in a Lubricating Journal Bearing,

specification.

My invention relates to bearings and particularly to that type of bearings used for supporting marine propeller shatts, and has tor an object to produce a simple, etlicient bearin provided with lubricant-circulating apparatus adapted to ensure constant and effective lubrication of the bearing under the severe continuous service required in the operation of marine propellers.

A further object is to supplement the wellknown vacuum-operated oiling device with means for air-sealing the space between the journal and the bearing so that a vacuum is constantly contained in the oiling system.

These and other objects are attained by means of the apparatus herein described and illustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming a part hereof, whereinr Fig. l is a transverse vertical section through a bearing takenon the line 1-1 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal oblique section taken on the line HTll of Fig, 1.

.Bearings have'heretot'ore been provided with conduits connecting an oil chamber beneath the bearing with the space between the journal and the bearing, whereby oil is circulated through the conduit by reason ot the vacuum created adjacent the point of oil supply by the rotation of the journal within the bearing. This principle of oil circulation is well known and the form of pump used in applying the principle will for the purpose of convenience be hereinafter referred to as a acuum lubricating pump.

The operation of this form of pump depends almost entirely upon the oil film present between the bearing and the journal, this film excluding the airfrom the oil conduits so that a vacuum may be maintained in the oiling system. This type of pump operates successfully for delivering ample quantites of lubricant to thebearings so long as the vacuum is properly maintained, but should Specification of Letters of which the following is a 'where the service is severe s it is he *essary 5' L122 the vacuum be brokenfor any reason, the supply otoil immediately stops because the pump no longer functions to circulate and should the oil the bearing be insutlicient to establish the air seal immediately after he vacuum has been broken, so that the limping process may continue, the hearing would soon become dangerously dry. in marine propeller shaft inst iationsl continuous, res ample mg sur: pumps are used ations, but frequently happens th because of slight osciliations oi the journal in the bearings, especially it" the bearings are slightly worn, the air seal is broken with the result that the oil supply is immediately discontinued. lit the Oil in the bearing is insuiiicient at this time to reestablish the air seal between the bearing and the journal, no more oil is circulated and the bearing becomes dry and overheated. .ln order to obviate this danger, it provide a bearing wherein nieans provided to augment the vacuum pump so that vacuum is increased and the an 'rnt of oil circulated thereby correspond .gly increased, thus eliminating the liability of the air seal becoming; broken. in addition to this, T provide an auxiliary oil delivering means for supplementing the vacuum pump, so that in the event, oi. a temporary failure 01 the pump, the auxiliary means will renew the air seal immediately after it has become broken. The auxiliary oiling system also serves to prevent the breaking of the air as seal and ensures an ample supply of oil for maintaining the air seal when the journal is idle and the vacuum pump is not functioning. Referring to the drawings for a more detailed understanding ot' my invention, l as show, a split bearing 3 comprising upper and lower bushing members stand 5 respectively. These are mounted in a bearing block 6, which is adapted to be securely anchored to the ship structure in the case of a too marine installation wherein the bearing is supporting a propeller shaft. The bearing block is provided with-a cap 7 which fits over and retains the bearings against vertical displacement. The bushing members 4 and 5 are each provided with end flanges 8, which engage webs 9 provided in the block and cap and prevent longitudinal displacement of the bearing bushings with respect to the block and cap.

The shaft 10 is provided with a pair of spaced collars 11, Which'may be integral with the shaft or secured thereto in any preferred manner. The collarsaredisposed on the shaft so that the bearing bushings fit closely between them. The collars are provided with radial grooves 12 and their purpose will hereinafter appear.

The vacuum lubri *ating pump previously referred to comprises a conduit 13, which connects with the passage 14 in the collar bearing: bushing and extends downwardly into the oil 15. which is retained in a suitable receptacle in the bottom of the bearing block. The passage 14, terminates in a longitudinally extending; distributing pocket 16 in which is placed some loose waste or other oil retaining material, but it will be understood that this packing is of such a nature that the oil may circulate freely through it. The rotation of the journal within the bearing creates a partial vacuum in the upper end of the passage 1 1, in-a manner well known in the art. The pressure outside of the bearing being greater than the pressure in the passage 14: causes the oil in the block 6 to be forced up through the pipe 13 into the pocket 16, which, it will be noted. terminates at each end ashort distance from the ends of the bearings. So long as the oil film is maintained between the bearing and the journal, the space between the pocket and the end of the bearing will be air sealed and the pump will continue to function and amply supply the bearing with lubricant, but if the seal becomes broken because of lack of oil or be- :ause of lateral oscillations of the journal within the bearing, the circulation of oil is discontinued.

To obviate this danger. l provide the bearinp; with an auxiliary oil circulating means for the purpose of maintaining a supply of oil on the bearing surface sufficient to renew the air seal in case it becomes broken and to maintain lubrication of the bearing:

oil 15. This wick continuously supplies the entire face of the bearing with sutticient oil to-maintain or renew the air seal between the journal and the bearing. As a further precaution against the bearing becoming temporarily dry through the failure of the vacuum lubricating pump, 1 provide the bearing with two longitudinal grooves or pockets 2() and 21, the former terminating short of the ends of the bearings, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2. and the latter-extending the entire length of the bearing and opening out of the ends thereof.

These grooves or pockets are connected by an arcuate groove 22 extending over the top of the hearingfrom one groove to the other. ()il from the vacuum pump accumulates in the pocket 20 and is moved by friction and suction through the channel 22 to the pocket 21 from whence it is discharged at the ends of the bearings. The circulation of the oil is increased by means of the centrifugal action of the collars 11 and grooves 12, which tend to create a vacuum adjacent the ends of the bearings and thereby augmentthe vacuum created by the vacuum pump. The circulation of oil by the vacuum pump is thereby increased and the liability of failure of the vacuum pump correspondingly reduced.

Should a break occur in the air seal, the oil in the pockets 20 and 21, together with the oil delivered to the bearing by the wick 17, would immediately serve to renew the seal. The wick also maintains a supply of oil in the bearing; to maintain the air seal between the journal and the bearing, when the shaft is idle, so that the vacuum pump will function immediately upon the rotation of the shaft.

It will be seen that the means for lubricating the hearing are actuated automati cally and require a minimum of attention. The pocket for the. upper end of the wick is placed in the upper bearing l. where it is accessible for inspection upon the removal of the cap 7. The block (5 and the cap 7 are provided with suitable packing rings 23 for preventing the es *ape of oil from the bearinp; and for excluding: foreign particles therefrom.

d'hile have shown my invention in but one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited but is susceptible of various other changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof and l desire. therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereon as arc imposed by the prior art or as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

What 1 claim is: 1. The combination with a journal, a hearing block having an oil receptacle in the lower portion thereof. and a bearing therefor havinga lubricating means operating by virtue of the vacuum produced by the retation of the journal in the bearing for supplying oil from said receptacle to the bearing. ofan auxiliary lubricating means independent oi the first-named means for constantly supplying the space between the journal and the bearing with oil from the said receptacle.

2. The combination with a journal. a bear-' ing block having an oil receptacle in the lower portion thereof, and a bearing therefor having a lubricatingmeans operating by virtue of the vacuum produced by the rotation of the journal in the bearing for sup plying oil from said receptacle to the hearing. of an auxiliary lubricating means comprising a wick adapted to supply lubricant continuously from the said receptacle to the space between the journal and the bearing.

3. The combination with a journal and a bearing therefor having a lubricating means operating by virtue of the vacuum produced by the rotation of the journal in the bearing, of means independent of the said means for maintaining an oil seal between the said means and the ends of the bearing.

4. The combination with a journal and a bearing and an oil supply therefor, of a conduit extending from the oil supply and opening into the bearing between the ends thereof and adapted to circulate oil by virtue of the vacuum produced by the rotation of the journal in the bearing, and an auxiliary oil circulating system adapted to maintain a film of oil between the journal and the bear ing for air-sealing the space therebetween,

5. The co 1 hination with a journal and a bearing and an oil supply therefor beneath l P 0 n the bearing, of a conduit extending- Irom the oil supply and opening into the hearing be.-

tween the ends thereof and adapted to circulate oil by virtue of the vacuum produced by the rotation of the journal in the bearing, and an auxiliary oil circulating system comprising a wick contacting with the journal and extending into contact with the oil supply, whereby an oil film is maintained between the journal and the bearing.

6. The combination with a journal and a bearing and an. oil supply therefor beneath the bearing. of a conduit extending from the oil supply and opening into the bearing between the ends thereof and adapted to circulate oil by virtue oi the vacuum produced by rotation of the journal in the bearing, and an auxiliary oil circulating system comprising a wick terminating in a pocket in the upper side of the bearing and extending into the oil supply. whereby oil is circulated from the oil supply to the bearing for maintaining a film of oil between the journal and the bearing.

7. The combination of a journal and a bearing therefor having lubricating means operating by virtue of a vacuum produced by rotation of the journal in the bearing, means for creating a vacuum at the bearing ends and augmenting the vacuum of the lubricating means.

8. A lubricating journal box, comprising -vacuum for the first means.

9. A journal and a bearing therefor,

'vacuum operated lubricating means for the bearing, and vacuum creating means at the ends of the bearing adapted to augment the vacuum of the first means, and other means for supplying lubricant to the bearing both for lubricating purposes and for the maintenance of the operation of the first means.

10. A journal and a bearing therefor, lubricating means operated by virtue of a vacuum produced by the rotation of the journal in the bearing, means for creating a vacuum at the ends of the bearing, and wick means for supplying oil to the bearing both for lubricating purposes and for the purpose of maintaining theoperation of the first means.

11. A lubricating journal bearing including a plurality of bushing members, a bloclr. having a lubricant receptacle and a cap for the block for holding said bushing members, vacuum lubricating means carried by one of the bushing members and communicating with the receptacle means for maintaining the air seal at the bushing ends comprising a pocket terminating short ends, a second groove or pocket extending throughout the bushing length, a connecting arcuate passage-way for said pockets, and means communicating with said arcuate passage-way and with the bearing surface to supply said pocket, passage-way, and hearing surfaces with lubricant.

12. A lubricating journal bearing comprising bushing members and a journal,

vacuum-operated lubricating means carried by one bushing member. wiclr lubricatin means associated with the other llllsllillfi; and

adapted to supply lubricant to the bearing surfaces and prevent brealr in air seal for said first means, and dislr members secured to said shatt contiguous to the bushing ends and having radial grooves on the faces next to the bushing ends whereby a vacuous coin dition is created at the bushing ends thereby improving the operation of the first means.

13. The combination with a journal and a bearing therefor having a lubricating means operating by virtue o vacuum produced by the rotation of the journal in. the bearing, ot auxiliary v of the bushin i acuum-creating CIT eeee

means at the ends of the hearing adapted to the journal in the hearing, of an auxiliary eugment the vacuum of the first means. vaeuum-creating means at the ends of the 14. T he combination with a jeurnel, 2t hearing adapted to augment the vacuum 011 bearing, and an oil supply therefor, of a the first means.

conduit extending: from the oil supply and In testimony whereof, It have hereunto.-

opening into the bearing between the ends subscribed my name this 17th day 0t Feb thereof and adapted to cn'culate oil by Virtue wary 1920.

o f the vacuum produced by the retation of HENRY F. SCHMIDT. 

